Songoftheday 5/16/16 - Now that I've lost everything to you, you say you want to start something new...

"Wild World" - Maxi Priest
from the album Maxi Priest (1988)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #25 (one week)
Weeks in the Top-40: 7

Today's song of the day comes from the British reggae-pop artist Maxi Priest, who grew up in London the son of Jamaican immigrants, and his music incorporates the sounds of that country's beloved style along with the soul of America also imported into England during that time. He released his debut album You're Safe in 1985, but it wasn't until his second, Intentions, that he landed his first big notice, scoring a top-40 hit in the UK with "Strollin' On" (#32) the following year. In 1987, Maxi released his third set Maxi (Maxi Priest in the States), and his cover of the soul classic "Some Guys Have All The Luck" reached #12 in Britain. Another remake on that album would give him his break in America.

"Wild World" was written and recorded by singer/songwriter Cat Stevens in 1970 for his classic Tea For The Tillerman album. Penned about his break-up with Patti D'Urbanville, the song is both gentle and cutting at the same time. The track went to #11 on the American pop chart, his first top-40 hit in the U.S...

It seems, though, that Maxi's version draws more from a cover of the song done that same year from reggae master Jimmy Cliff, that made it to #8 on the British singles chart...

Maxi brightens up the background and makes the beat more prominent in his remake...

Priest's take on "Wild World" reached the American top-40 in January of 1989. The single did even better on easy-listening radio, making it to #10 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. Internationally, the single climbed to #5 in Ireland, Belgium, New Zealand, and his native UK. He also made the top ten in Australia (#8), Norway (#3), and the Netherlands (#7).

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"Wild World" returned to the top-40 in America courtesy of hair-metal band Mr. Big, who went to #27 with their version in 1993...

Finally, here's Maxi live in concert in 1990...

Up tomorrow: A rocker grrrl finds a faker.